Heidelberg, 15.07.2024 – Following the great success of the first issue of "found," the second edition of the Heidelberg start-up magazine is being released today. It focuses on the successful founders along the Neckar. In 2023, the number of start-ups in Heidelberg continued to rise, reaching 188 young companies. The main areas of focus for these start-ups remain life sciences and software, including the future-oriented field of artificial intelligence. But how is such success possible? The new issue of "found" provides insights:
- Motivation is Key. For the first time, the Heidelberg Founder's Award was presented. The winning teams in the categories "Courage" and "Innovation" are Onuava and Codefy. They are dedicated to introducing fertility and family-building benefits and accelerating administrative processes through digital language processing.
- The Heidelberg Ecosystem would be unimaginable without the university and the city. Katja Patzel-Mattern explains how she, as Vice-Rector of Heidelberg University, sets the course for innovation and transfer. Mayor Eckart Würzner describes how he advocates for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
- Capital is Essential because founding and investing go hand in hand. Ina Schlie, with her network encourageventures, is committed to increasing diversity in start-ups. Alexander and Daniel von Wedel share their experiences as angel investors.
- It Comes Down to the Founders because start-ups are the core of the Heidelberg ecosystem. Thorsten Heilig and Fabian Rang are building one of Germany's most promising AI start-ups with paretos. Carsten Rother is teaching AI to see and reports on collaborations as a success model. Sina Lyko-Tönges and Frank Lyko are cancer researchers who breed crabs and promote sustainability with Merall Bioproducts.
"We are delighted that the second issue of 'found' is being published just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Technology Park Heidelberg," says André Domin, Managing Director of Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH. "For four decades, the Technology Park Heidelberg has been promoting excellent basic research, science, technology transfer, and start-ups in Heidelberg. Through our networking efforts, we also significantly contribute to urban development. The new issue of 'found' impressively shows what is possible in Heidelberg."
"It quickly became clear to us that 'found' deserved a second issue. Many stories about founders in Heidelberg are yet to be told, and a lot has happened over the past year," reports Thomas Prexl, Director of Startup Support at Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH. "In 'found,' we showcase what distinguishes the successful founders with their start-ups. We also highlight the individuals in the Heidelberg ecosystem who have contributed to these successes."